On the Feast of Pentecost five years ago (24 May 2015), Pope Francis unveiled his great encyclical letter on the environment: Laudato Si (Praise Be). It is subtitled “On Care for our Common Home” and is addressed not just to the Catholic Church, but to the whole of humanity as we face the global climate emergency.

The week of 16th-24th May 2020 has been designated “Laudato Si week” when we are asked to pray about caring for Our Common Home, Laudato Si’ Week will end on Sunday, 24 May, with a global day of prayer.

The weeklong celebration is to honour Pope Francis’ encyclical on ecology and climate change, and to encourage us to build a better world together.  Pope Francis has encouraged us all to participate in Laudato Si’ Week through a video message. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHlzOWp8ZQY&amp=&feature=youtu.be

There are many resources on-line (some links below), previously planned events for Laudato Si’ Week are now not possible, but  we can grow through the crisis of the current moment by praying, reflecting, and preparing together for a better world to come. The lessons of the encyclical are particularly relevant in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, which has brought many parts of the world to a halt.

Pope Francis in a recent weekly address said, “As the tragic coronavirus pandemic has taught us, we can overcome global challenges only by showing solidarity with one another and embracing the most vulnerable in our midst.” He went on to say, “As a single and interdependent family, we require a common plan in order to avert the threats to our common home.”

Laudato Si’ offers a vision for building a more just and sustainable world.

Further Information – Reflection from Sr Margaret Atkins